Body of missing Cartersville teacher found | News

Title (Max 100 Characters)

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- A search for a missing 30-year-old teacher has ended tragically.

The Bartow County Deputy Coroner Brandon Duncan confirmed to 11Alive that Scott Salter was found dead near a popular hiking trial.

Salter was a teacher at Cass High School. When he did not show up to work Monday, a search began.

"We went by his apartment and he had his school clothes laid out on his bed, and he had his books by the door," said his father, Gil Salter. "So he was just planning on going out and doing a quick hour, hour and a half hike and coming back."

Volunteers and other officials – including the Bartow County Sheriff's Office, Army Corp of Engineers, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources – met at the entrance of Pine Mountain at Main Street at 2 p.m. Monday afternoon to begin their search.

Bartow County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Sgt. Jonathan Rogers told 11Alive's Duffie Dixon, "he was found well off the trail with injuries that point to an accidental death." They're waiting for the autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Salter was the oldest of three children and his dad said they loved the outdoors.

"He loved the outdoors and those trails. We'd hiked them for years. He often went off the main trail and would come home with scratches and bruises," Salter said.

His dad also spoke to his son's relationship with his students. For four years, he taught American Literature.

"He loved teaching and would have one or two students every year who came up to him and told him he was the reason they didn't drop out of school."

Flags flew at half-staff at Cass High School on Tuesday, as students remembered the beloved teacher.

"He was just a really good teacher and he sincerely cared about his students and I don't know, it's just really sad," said former student Nevan Huskins.

Family and friends held a visitation service for Salter on Friday. A "celebration of life" service will be held in his honor March 12 in the Cass High School theater at 4 p.m. In addition, the family has set up a scholarship fund in Salter's name. MORE DETAILS ON SERVICES.